Release and Reset: A Practice
As we come to the end of anything - whether the end of the year, end of another birth year, end of a season, ending of a relationship, leaving a job - many of us find ourselves reflecting on what was, what could have been, and what might come next. This is a natural part of our mind trying to compartmentalize, justify and organize our memories of things. Many do this through rituals of journalling, meditation or prayer and this can be comforting and bring some level of release and manifestation.
However, depending on how and what we do in this reflection however, we may inadvertently hold on to things that are no longer serving us or invite forward with us, patterns that keep us in a cycle or repetition, instead of truly resetting. I found I was doing this for many years. Thinking I was acknowledging, resetting and inviting forward, yet unconsciously, I wasn’t really releasing the things that were holding me back and I was putting energy into the very things I was wanting to move away from. What is also often missed, is the opportunity and importance of creating space for spirit and body to also release. This is often why many people’s New Year’s resolutions fail to stick or goals achieved still feels not quite enough. Not because of what was said or committed to, more because of how they were set and what was not released to make space for the new.
After years of spiritual rituals from ancestors and other elders, journaling, meditation practice, books I’ve read and amazing teachers I met along the way, I’ve now found a routine of releasing and resetting that transcends. I practice this every quarter and after each ending of something, to honor what passed and make space for what will be created next. This is now firmly part of my wellness routine. I share this now with you, as much of this was shared with me, as an offering to practice for yourself, to adapt into your own routine and add to as you see fit. For people of Faith, this is something that can be used around or to add to your prayer or worship practice.
The Preparation
Gather your tools - journal, pen, notepad with paper to tear out into strips, or index cards, a bowl of water, matches or lighter, candles, sage to burn/smudge, if this is part of your spiritual practice, healing and energy clearing crystals (if you use) and/or your prayer ritual (if you practice)
Clear the time - find a time in your chosen day that you will be undisturbed and able to focus for at least two hours.
Set the space - Find a space in your home/location or outside area you will be in and place your tools for the practice there. Make the space look in a way that works for you, puts you at ease and feels relaxing. Put away/turn off or be away from any laptops, phones, Ipads etc.
The Practice
Begin Early: Start 15 mins before the set time. Use this time to detach from what was going on before, quieten your mind and prepare your whole self. I stretch my body, I burn sage, I sit and take ten deep belly breaths, I light my candles and I speak a gratitude prayer.
Open Up: Sit firmly in a chair with your feet touching the ground or cross your legs if sitting on the floor. Play some meditation music and take three deep breaths in. Close your eyes and meditate on sending clearing energy through your body. From your head to your toes - for me it is a blue energy I visualize, washing through me like waves. Do this for around 5 mins or until you have worked through your whole body. Open your eyes. Stay silent.
Release Ritual:
Stretch your body and open up your heart by pushing your chest forward and back three times.
Close your eyes and put your hand on your heart. Think of all the parts of yourself, the things and people you are grateful for and send love to them all.
Visualize all the things that have caused you pain, the judgements you’ve made of others, the negative energy, the situations you need to release, the forgiveness you need to give yourself, the shame and judgement of yourself you need to release. Let them come through you. Visualize yourself accepting them all, all the shadow parts and send warm, compassionate energy there.
Open your eyes, take a deep breath and draw with your non-dominant hand a visualization of what came up. Draw you as your inner child on the paper with words and imagery around you.
With your dominant hand, then write what is needed to be removed or released. What does your inner child need you to do for them, what do you want to tell them?
Write on each piece of paper or index card, one thought/area per paper, that you need to release, forgive, and you no longer want to carry forward with you.
Once complete take the bowl of water and lighter/matches and carefully burn each piece of paper. Do this over the bowl of water and drop it in the water once it has burned enough - please practice safety as primary during this part. As you are burning say the words ‘I release you’ over and over again until this part is complete.
Meditate for 5 mins and visualize the blue energy and waves washing through your body again, washing out any last remaining energy that needs to be released.
Hug yourself and speak loving words to yourself. Gratitude prayer if you so wish at this point too.
Transition and Move - at this point, get up and move your body in a way that works for you. Dance to a lifting, energizing song, practice some sun salutations on your yoga mat, go for a 5 min walk. Do something to move your body. Remove and discard the bowl of water and papers you’ve just burned.
Reset Ritual:
Take three deep belly breaths in and out and close your eyes. Meditate again with different music to earlier and visualize this time a warm orange/red energy moving through your body. From your head to your toes.
Close your eyes and put your hand back on your heart and send compassionate energy there. Visualize it opening up and sending out what it is you truly want to create next.
Then add your other hand to your gut - connect with your power here, your intuition and inner knowing lives here. Send compassion there and visualize this part opening up.
Reflect on all or some of these questions with your eyes closed and your hands on your heart and gut.
What is it you truly want to create next?
What are your strengths and gifts you want to offer more to the world?
What is something you really care about?
What matters enough to you that you will take a stand for?
What parts of you have you been neglecting that you want to show more or pay more attention to?
What dreams have you ignored that keep coming back, that you now want to listen to?
What else do you want to offer to yourself?
Where do you need to show up more?
Where do you need to relax, rest and pause more?
Open your eyes and in your journal draw or write all that came to mind - through imagery or words. Put down everything you remember that came up.
On a piece of card, or a separate notebook, using ‘I AM’ statements write as if you are in the future moment living the things you’ve imagined just now. Write as if they are already happening. Some examples: I am making time for myself and the things that bring me joy, I am resting and prioritizing my health, I am in a loving, committed relationship with someone who aligns with my values, I am creating joy wherever I go…..
Meditate or pray with your I AM statements for two minutes. Visualize them going through you, into your heart and out into the Universe.
Take three deep breaths in and out and open your eyes.
The Closing
Stretch your body or do a short yoga practice or sun salutations, go for a walk or run, whilst visualizing yourself living the I AM statements and allowing anything left to move through you.
Put the paper with the I AM statements away somewhere safe that you will not look at, until your next Release and Reset session.
Blow out any candles you lit, remove anything left over and leave the space.
Take a warm bath or long shower, with your choice of essential oils and play your favorite uplifting and soothing playlist.
Write what you are grateful for in your journal and/or write a letter to yourself to open at some point in the future if you so wish.
Sleep.
Sending you the love, courage and energy you need to choose you, to accept all parts of you, and to allow the greatness within you to be seen, heard and felt, wherever you go.
My playlist for this session can be found here
Acknowledgement - This routine was created and inspired by culminating the lessons and knowledge shared with me, from ancestors, spiritual guides, teachers and practitioners.